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The Evolutionary Piano Project launched on Indiegogo today. The primary goal is to develop an optimized carbon fiber composite soundboard, but we are building the piano with an expanded compass of 102 keys. I was wondering if any of you are interested in having more keys to compose with?

I think I'm fine with the keys we have, although there have been two or three times when I've wanted to take things down farther into the 0 octave (with double octave passages, for example). Never wanted below Imperial C, though.

I've composed a few pieces that dip momentarily below the 88, none lower than the G.

It might be worth looking at a reversion to straight stringing with parallel grain approximation in the carbon fibre if it really will be 102 keys. This would help keep the lowest octave register from unduly resonating the higher ones and keep the sound clearer with long held pedal.

Not only the Imperial Bosendorfer - Erard had a line of concert grand with more than 88 keys and which was straight strung.

Maybe, but once we get to a certain point we'll need sliding piano benches

Yes! Have them run on a roller built into the floor in front of the piano.

Not that hard to do.ASSUMING sheet music, or a stored copy of it and some minor programmed intelligence.Easy enough to read ahead and get the player's butt to whichever end of the keyboard it will need to be at next.Take the pedals (lyre) with them too.

88 keys has been plenty for me. In terms of extending the piano's range we're pretty much far in the extreme now. The problem is if I say I don't need the extra notes something will come to mind and I'll want to write with them. However, I will say that extending the bass of the piano is almost an exercise in futility because the instrument just doesn't produce much fundamental at the bottom of its range. If you want real bass, earth shattering, wall shuddering bass compose for organ. I once played the old Aeolian Skinner at Duke University. It had a 32' Bombarde (actually now that I think about it it might have been a 64'). I played the low C for just a moment. Bear in mind the fundamental at 32' is 16 Hz (for 64' it would be 8 Hz). I thought the building might come down. No piano will ever be able to do that.

I tried to discuss the bass issue before, but nobody engaged. The conventional wisdom is that those low notes do not produce a lot of fundamental. I think the problem is that the soundboard's fundamental resonance is typically set to 40-50 Hz, meaning it is going to reproduce the harmonics better than the fundamental. If the ring tone were set to 28 Hz, I wonder what it would sound like.

To be honest, my poor ears have trouble discerning the tones of the uppermost and lowermost piano keys anyway.

Many of us have that trouble. Which is exactly why I think the whole idea is pretty silly. After all, it's not like the ability to extend the range is something new - it's just not something musicians and listeners want or need in a piano. Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done.

Plus, as has been alluded, it's already hard enough for the player to reach the ends of the keyboard as it is, especially if they are not very tall.

To be honest, my poor ears have trouble discerning the tones of the uppermost and lowermost piano keys anyway.

Many of us have that trouble. Which is exactly why I think the whole idea is pretty silly. After all, it's not like the ability to extend the range is something new - it's just not something musicians and listeners want or need in a piano. Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done.

Plus, as has been alluded, it's already hard enough for the player to reach the ends of the keyboard as it is, especially if they are not very tall.

Agreed, just because it COULD BE done doesn't justify doing it.

If (if, If, IF) there was much "need" for it you could bet the electronic folk would be out there with however many keys starting from wherever you want, with transposing to boot.5 Hz ? No problem.50K Hz ? Sure.